Benjamin Griffith Brawley
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Griffith Brawley (April 22, 1882 - February 1, 1939) was a prominent African American
author and educator. He studied at Atlanta Baptist College (renamed Morehouse College
) graduating in 1901, the University of Chicago
, and received his Master's degree from Harvard University
in 1908. Brawley taught in the English departments at Atlanta Baptist College, Howard University
, and Shaw University
.
He served as the first Dean of Morehouse College
from 1912 to 1920 before returning to Howard University in 1937 where he served as chair of the English department. He wrote a good deal of poetry, but is best known for his prose work including: History of Morehouse College (1917); The Negro Literature and Art (1918); A Short History of the American Negro (1919); A Short History of the English Drama (1921); A Social History of the American Negro (1921); A New Survey of English Literature (1925).
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
author and educator. He studied at Atlanta Baptist College (renamed Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
) graduating in 1901, the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and received his Master's degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1908. Brawley taught in the English departments at Atlanta Baptist College, Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, and Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
.
He served as the first Dean of Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
from 1912 to 1920 before returning to Howard University in 1937 where he served as chair of the English department. He wrote a good deal of poetry, but is best known for his prose work including: History of Morehouse College (1917); The Negro Literature and Art (1918); A Short History of the American Negro (1919); A Short History of the English Drama (1921); A Social History of the American Negro (1921); A New Survey of English Literature (1925).
Publications and Selected Writings
- A Toast to Love and Death (poems), Atlanta Baptist College, 1902.
- The Problem, and Other Poems (poems), Atlanta Baptist College, 1905.
- A Short History of the American Negro, Macmillan, 1913; 4th revised edition, 1939.
- History of Morehouse College, Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA), 1917; reprinted, McGrath Publishing, 1970.
- The Negro in Literature and Art in the United States, Duffield, 1918, revised edition, 1921; revised and retitled The Negro Genius: A New Appraisal of the Achievement of the American Negro in Literature and the Fine Arts, Dodd, 1937; reprinted, Biblo & Tannen, 1966.
- A Short History of the English Drama, Harcourt, 1921; reprinted, Books for Libraries, 1969.
- A Social History of the American Negro, Macmillan, 1921; reprinted, AMS Press, 1971.
- New Survey of English Literature: A Textbook for Colleges, Knopf, 1925, reprinted, 1930.
- A History of the English Hymn, Abingdon, 1932.
- (Editor) Early Negro American Writers, University of North Carolina Press, 1935; reprinted, Books for Libraries, 1968.
- Paul Laurence Dunbar, Poet of His People, University of North Carolina Press, 1936, reprinted, Kennikat, 1967.
- Negro Builders and Heroes, University of North Carolina Press, 1937; reprinted, 1965.
- The Seven Sleepers of Ephesys (poems), Foote & Davis (Atlanta, GA), 1971.